Impact of pathogenic bacterial communities present in wastewater on aquatic organisms: Application of nanomaterials for the removal of these pathogens.

Contaminated wastewater (WW) can cause severe hazards to numerous delicate ecosystems and associated life forms. In addition, human health is negatively impacted by the presence of microorganisms in water. Multiple pathogenic microorganisms in contaminated water, including bacteria, fungi, yeast, and viruses, are vectors for several contagious diseases.

Biosynthesis of Nanoparticles Using Plant Extracts and Essential Oils.

Plant extracts and essential oils have a wide variety of molecules with potential application in different fields such as medicine, the food industry, and cosmetics. Furthermore, these plant derivatives are widely interested in human and animal health, including potent antitumor, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and bactericidal activity. Given this diversity, different methodologies were needed to optimize the extraction, purification, and characterization of each class of biomolecules.

Bionanotechnology in Agriculture: A One Health Approach.

Healthy eating habits are one of the requirements for the health of society. In particular, foods are increasingly encouraged, since they have a high concentration of nutrients. However, these foods are often grown in the presence of agrochemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides.

The Role of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles in Antimicrobial Mechanisms.

Nanotechnology is an area of science in which new materials are developed. The correlation between nanotechnology and microbiology is essential for the development of new drugs and vaccines. The main advantage of combining these areas is to associate the latest technology in order to obtain new ways for solving problems related to microorganisms.

Green nanotechnology: only the final product that matters?

Nanotechnology is increasingly showing interest in eco-friendly nanotechnology products. However, the final product does not always establish a connection with the principles established by green chemistry. Thus, much confusion is present in the literature, where nanostructures are synthesized with aggressive protocols to the environment but are subsequently exposed to natural products.

Does Large Vessel Size Justify Use of Bare-Metal Stents in Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention?

Background: Drug-eluting stents (DES) showed improved efficacy and safety compared with bare-metal stents (BMS), and international guidelines recommend their use as first line treatment. Yet, BMS are still widely used in practice, especially in large coronary vessels. We aimed to compare efficacy and safety of second-generation DES over BMS in large coronary culprit ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction lesions.

Clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with everolimus-eluting stents versus bare-metal stents (EXAMINATION): 5-year results of a randomised trial.

Background: Data for the safety and efficacy of new-generation drug-eluting stents at long-term follow-up, and specifically in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, are scarce. In the EXAMINATION trial, we compared everolimus-eluting stents (EES) with bare-metal stents (BMS) in an all-comer population with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. In this study, we assessed the 5-year outcomes of the population in the EXAMINATION trial.

Arterial healing following primary PCI using the Absorb everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (Absorb BVS) versus the durable polymer everolimus-eluting metallic stent (XIENCE) in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: rationale and design of the randomised TROFI II study.

Aims: The Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (Absorb BVS) provides similar clinical outcomes compared with a durable polymer-based everolimus-eluting metallic stent (EES) in stable coronary artery disease patients. ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) lesions have been associated with delayed arterial healing and impaired stent-related outcomes. The purpose of the present study is to compare directly the arterial healing response, angiographic efficacy and clinical outcomes between the Absorb BVS and metallic EES.

Peri-procedural use of rivaroxaban in elective percutaneous coronary intervention to treat stable coronary artery disease. The X-PLORER trial.

Patients on rivaroxaban requiring percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) represent a clinical conundrum. We aimed to investigate whether rivaroxaban, with or without an additional bolus of unfractionated heparin (UFH), effectively inhibits coagulation activation during PCI. Stable patients (n=108) undergoing elective PCI and on stable dual antiplatelet therapy were randomised (2:2:2:1) to a short treatment course of rivaroxaban 10 mg (n=30), rivaroxaban 20 mg (n=32), rivaroxaban 10 mg plus UFH (n=30) or standard peri-procedural UFH (n=16).

The EXAMINATION trial (Everolimus-Eluting Stents Versus Bare-Metal Stents in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction): 2-year results from a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the 2-year outcomes of the population included in the EXAMINATION (Everolimus-Eluting Stents Versus Bare-Metal Stents in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction) trial beyond the 1-year prescription period of dual antiplatelet therapy.

Background: The EXAMINATION trial compared the performance of everolimus-eluting stents (EES) versus bare-metal stents (BMS) in an all-comer ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) population.

Methods: This was a multicenter, multinational, prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled trial in patients with STEMI.

Everolimus-eluting stent versus bare-metal stent in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (EXAMINATION): 1 year results of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Everolimus-eluting stent (EES) reduces the risk of restenosis in elective percutaneous coronary intervention. However, the use of drug-eluting stent in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is still controversial. Data regarding the performance of second-generation EES in this setting are scarce.

Rationale and design of the EXAMINATION trial: a randomised comparison between everolimus-eluting stents and cobalt-chromium bare-metal stents in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Aims: To assess the performance of the everolimus-eluting stent (EES) versus cobalt chromium bare-metal stent (BMS) in the setting of primary percutaneous coronary intervention for treatment of patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The implantation of a drug-eluting stent in the setting of an acute myocardial infarction is still controversial. In several registries this clinical scenario has been associated with the development of stent thrombosis.

Noninvasive detection of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis coupled with assessment of changes in plaque characteristics using novel invasive imaging modalities: the Integrated Biomarker and Imaging Study (IBIS).

Objectives: Our purpose was to assess noninvasive imaging in detection of subclinical atherosclerosis and to examine novel invasive modalities to describe prevalence and temporal changes in putative characteristics of "high-risk" plaques.

Background: Conventional coronary imaging cannot identify "high-risk" lesions.

Methods: Conventional (quantitative angiography and intravascular ultrasound [IVUS]) and novel imaging (IVUS-based palpography and gray scale echogenicity) were performed at baseline and 6 months later in 67 patients with diverse clinical presentations.

Five-year outcomes after coronary stenting versus bypass surgery for the treatment of multivessel disease: the final analysis of the Arterial Revascularization Therapies Study (ARTS) randomized trial.

Objectives: The long-term (five-year) comparative results of treatment of multivessel coronary artery disease with stenting or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is at present unknown.

Background: The Arterial Revascularization Therapies Study (ARTS) was designed to compare CABG and stenting in patients with multivessel disease.

Methods: A total of 1,205 patients with the potential for equivalent revascularization were randomly assigned to CABG (n = 605) or stent implantation (n = 600).

Rationale and methods of the integrated biomarker and imaging study (IBIS): combining invasive and non-invasive imaging with biomarkers to detect subclinical atherosclerosis and assess coronary lesion biology.

Death or myocardial infarction, the most serious clinical consequences of atherosclerosis, often result from plaque rupture at non-flow limiting lesions. Current diagnostic imaging with coronary angiography only detects large plaques that already impinge on the lumen and cannot accurately identify those that have a propensity to cause unheralded events. Accurate evaluation of the composition or of the biomechanical characteristics of plaques with invasive or non-invasive methods, alone or in conjunction with assessment of circulating biomarkers, could help identify high-risk patients, thus providing the rationale for aggressive treatments in order to reduce future clinical events.

Three-year outcome after coronary stenting versus bypass surgery for the treatment of multivessel disease.

Background: The primary results of Arterial Revascularization Therapy Study reported a greater need for repeated revascularization after percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting (PCI). However, PCI was less expensive than coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and offered the same degree of protection against death, stroke, and myocardial infarction.

Methods And Results: Patients with multivessel disease (n=1205) were randomly assigned to either CABG or PCI and followed up for up to 3 years.

TAXUS III Trial: in-stent restenosis treated with stent-based delivery of paclitaxel incorporated in a slow-release polymer formulation.

Background: The first clinical study of paclitaxel-eluting stent for de novo lesions showed promising results. We performed the TAXUS III trial to evaluate the feasibility and safety of paclitaxel-eluting stent for the treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR).

Methods And Results: The TAXUS III trial was a single-arm, 2-center study that enrolled 28 patients with ISR meeting the criteria of lesion length < or =30 mm, 50% to 99% diameter stenosis, and vessel diameter 3.

A randomized comparison of the value of additional stenting after optimal balloon angioplasty for long coronary lesions: final results of the additional value of NIR stents for treatment of long coronary lesions (ADVANCE) study.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the clinical benefit of additional stent implantation after achieving an optimal result of balloon angioplasty (BA) in long coronary lesions (>20 mm).

Background: Long coronary lesions are associated with increased early complications and late restenosis after BA. Stenting improves the early outcome, but stent restenosis is also related to both lesion length and stent length.

Erythropoiesis in myelodysplastic syndrome: expression of receptors for erythropoietin and kit ligand.

Ineffective erythropoiesis due to an impaired response to erythropoietin (EPO) is a prominent abnormality in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The growth factor kit ligand (KL) may restore the in vitro erythroid colony-forming response to EPO in a subset of patients. The inability of MDS erythroid progenitors to react properly to EPO and/or KL has not been resolved.

Somatostatin and its cyclic octapeptide analog SMS 201-995 as inhibitors of proliferation of human acute lymphoblastic and acute myeloid leukemia.

Somatostatin (SS) is a 14 amino acid peptide which is secreted by the hypothalamus and the pancreatic islets. It expresses antiproliferative activity in various organ systems, experiments have suggested effects of SS on hematopoietic cells. Here we present investigations regarding the effect of SS and its analog SMS 201-995 (SMS) on the in vitro proliferation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; n = 7 cases), acute myeloid leukemia (AML; n = 21 cases) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL; n = 2 cases).

R-h-erythropoietin counteracts the inhibition of in vitro erythropoiesis by tumour necrosis factor alpha in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) is a common extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) plays an important role in the development of ACD. The objective of the present study was to assess inhibition of in vitro colony-forming unit erythrocyte (CFUe) and blast-forming unit erythrocyte (BFUe) growth by TNF alpha and to examine whether this suppression could be counteracted by adding increasing concentrations of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) (r-h-EPO) to bone marrow cultures of RA patients with ACD and without anaemia (controls).

Relative contributions of human types 1 and 2 T-helper cell-derived eosinophilotrophic cytokines to development of eosinophilia.

The relative contributions of type 1 and 2 T-helper (Th1 and Th2) cell-derived interleukin (IL-5), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-3 were studied in the regulation of sequential events in the development of eosinophilia. Using eosinophils from normal donors and neutralizing antibodies that selectively block cytokine activities, we analyzed the effects of these cytokines in supernatants (SN) of well-characterized allergen-specific Th2 and Th1 T-lymphocyte clones (TLC) generated from atopic and nonatopic individuals, respectively. Eosinophil colony formation from CD34+ bone marrow progenitor cells in semisolid cultures could be induced both by Th1 and Th2 SN, mainly mediated by the synergistic effects of GM-CSF and IL-3, whereas IL-5 had only a minor additive effect.

Blast colony-forming cells in myelodysplastic syndrome: decreased potential to generate erythroid precursors.

In vitro colony-forming abilities of highly purified primitive hematopoietic cells in eight cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) were studied using the blast cell colony assay. Blast cell colony formation from seven normal bone marrow (NBM) samples was studied in parallel. Blast cell colonies were formed in 7/8 cases of MDS, the numbers not significantly differing from those generated by NBM.

Kit ligand improves in vitro erythropoiesis in myelodysplastic syndrome.

Erythropoiesis in response to erythropoietin (Epo) in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in vitro and in vivo is severely impaired. We investigated the stimulative effect of c-kit ligand (KL) on the erythroid colony-forming abilities of bone marrow cells from 17 patients with MDS. The effects of normal donor-derived marrow were examined in comparison.